Direct proof of use
The public record places the 1RL257 Krasukha-4 in the 2011 Syrian Civil War through Russia's 2015 intervention. Jamestown reported that by October 2015 Russia had deployed the Krasukha-4 ground-based electronic-warfare system to its airbase near Latakia, and described the deployment as part of support for other air-defense assets protecting Khmeimim airbase from air attack.
ICDS separately identified Krasukha-4 among the most readily identifiable Russian electronic-warfare systems in Syria and assessed that Krasukha-4, Khibiny, and Leer-3 were consistently present and used long-term during the Syria campaign. That corroborates the system's theater presence, while leaving individual jamming engagements less visible in open sources.
Sources: Jamestown Russian EW Military Thought, ICDS Russia EW Capabilities Report
Dated reports
Open reporting around the opening phase of Russia's Syria campaign described the Krasukha-4 as part of the new Russian electronic-warfare package. Homeland Security News Wire reported on October 12, 2015 that Russia had deployed Krasukha-4 to Syria, identifying it as a broadband multifunctional jamming system and placing the report amid the buildup of Russian military activity in the country.
Jamestown's later study gave the more specific operational location and role: by October 2015, Krasukha-4 was at Russia's airbase near Latakia and was supporting base protection and air-defense coverage. RAND's study of the Russian air campaign anchors that location by describing Hmeimim, at Bassel al-Assad International Airport in Latakia governorate, as Russia's main operating base in Syria after Russian forces assumed control of most base operating functions in September 2015.
Sources: Homeland Security News Wire Syria EW, Jamestown Russian EW Military Thought, RAND Russian Air Campaign in Syria
Operational role
In Syria, Krasukha-4 appears as a Russian electronic-warfare and force-protection system rather than a direct strike weapon. The system was described in the Syria reporting as a multifunctional jammer mainly intended to jam airborne radars, and Army University Press later summarized Russian Krasukha-4 deployment in Syria as connected to jamming adversary communications and sensors.
Later GPS-spoofing discussion tied Krasukha-4 to the Khmeimim electromagnetic environment but remains more cautious for specific effects. Jamestown's 2021 article identified Krasukha-4 at Khmeimim among Russian electronic-warfare systems discussed as GPS threats, while also noting disputed claims and that Moscow had not publicly disclosed precise EW-system locations in Syria. The strongest sourced claim for this record is therefore deployment and use as part of Russia's Khmeimim base-protection and air-defense support package, with more specific jamming effects treated as attributed reporting.
Sources: Jamestown Russian EW Military Thought, Army University Press Ground-Based EW, Jamestown Russian EW GPS Threat
